January 17, 2024

“Motion: To open the public hearing at 6:20PM. (Roche/Trowbridge) LL a aE a ee eS. ETE ELA NE eee a AREAL E ee NN i Select Board Meeting Minutes : January 17, 2024 ‘ Roll Calf Vote: Roche - Yes Doherty - Yes Rhein - Yes Trowbridge - Yes Bren - Yes Passes 5:0 Mr. Dumas introduced Mr. William Solomon who was the attorney hired to do the renewal of Comcast and Verizon cable licenses. Mr. Solomon began by stating that the team here is great and it is helpful to have the Town Administrative staff assisting in the process and showing how important this matter is to the Town. He stated that there is an agreement in principie and are awaiting Verizon to confirm. Mr. Solomon provided a summary of the license noting that it was a strong license with strong capital funds. Ms. Bren then asked for members of the public who had comments or questions to come forward and there were no one from the audience in the room that came forward nor any on the webinar that wanted to speak. Ms. Bren then asked if any Board members had questions. Ms. Doherty asked about money for capitol or equipment for Mansfield's local public access and Mr. Solomon responded that the money from the cable licenses is exactly for those expenses and it is five percent of the gross revenues to be used for operations and then there is an additional $125,000 given in three payments. Mr. Roche thanked him for getting the high definition channel through the license. Mr. Trowbridge asked if there have been any concerns that have been brought up by local cable access and are they aware this was happening tonight. Mr. Dumas responded that they were consulted with for both Comcast and Verizon initially in order for Mr. Solomon to begin his negotiations. Mr. Dumas also stated that no other community has more than one high definition channel. Mr. Trowbridge asked if the government channel could be the high definition channel and Mr. Solomon responded that it is up to the Select Board and Mr. Trowbridge requested that an invitation sent to the local cable access Board when it is discussed. Mr. Trowbridge then asked if the hearing would be continued to another date or if the Board should close. It. Mr. Solomon recommended closing the hearing because the Board has met its legal requirement. Mr. Rhein asked if the five percent of gross revenues covers the operations of cable access and Mr, Dumas responded that they are. He then asked if anything is being taken out of the license from the current agreement and Mr. Solomon stated that the years of the license is less, but no material effect that is detrimental to the Town. Mr. Marc Corsillo of 1604 West Street asked if there is anything for 5G that is part of the license or is that out of scope for this license and Mr. Solomon responded that this is specifically for cable television. Motion: To close the public hearing at 6:36PM. (Roche/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Roche - Yes Doherty - Yes Rhein - Yes Trowbridge - Yes Bren - Yes Passes 5:0 8. Presentation on Downtown Sign and Fagade Program Mr. Chris McDermott, Economic Development Director came forward and gave an update on the launch of the sign and fagade program. He stated that the program dollars from the state has been cut in half however : they are still proceeding forward. He explained that there is still $25,000 available and the IDC will be the : selection committee. He stated that to promote the program he has launched a website, social media posts and has gone door to door to local businesses that are eligible to apply. Ms. Bren commented that there is great advertisement and outreach happening for this program. Mr. Roche asked if this information was i passed to the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce and Mr. McDermott stated that he did speak with : Representative Barrows but will also be reaching out to Ms. Kara Griffin. Mr. Trowbridge asked if these are low interest loans or straight out grants and Mr. McDermott responded that they were grants and the business owner would bring receipts for the work and be reimbursed. Ms. Doherty asked if there is a sunset clause and Mr. McDermott responded the deadline is June 30, 2024. i 9. Discussion and Consideration of Interview Process for New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Members : Select Board Meeting Minutes January 17, 2024 Mr. Dumas stated that previously the Select Board had interviewed candidates for this committee as a full Board. There are applications of high school students and the Board needs to decide if they want to do it as a full Board or go through the Volunteer Advisory Subcommittee. Mr. Trowbridge stated that it was a whole new committee and that is why the interviews were done as a full Select Board and believed it should be done through the Subcommittee. Mr. Rhein had no strong feelings either way. Ms. Doherty is fine with continuing that way. Mr. Roche stated that he also is fine either way. Ms. Bren asked for a motion and Mr. Trowbridge questioned if a motion was needed. Ms. Bren responded that a motion was needed. Motion: To have the Volunteer Advisory Subcommittee interview the DEI candidates. (Trowbridge/Doherty) Passes 5:0.” (Motion: Trowbridge, second: Doherty)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

“Motion: To enter into Executive Session and Return to Open Session under Exemption No. 2, M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 to discuss strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with the Town Manager at 7:09PM. (Roche/Doherty) : Roll Call Vote: Roche - Yes Doherty - Yes Rhein - Yes Trowbridge - Yes Bren - Yes Passes 5:0 19. Discussion and Consideration of Signing a Contract with the Town Manager for a new Three-Year Term The Board returned from the Executive Session at 7:28PM. Ms. Bren asked Mr. DeRensis to explain the process. Mr. DeRensis explained the process that was followed by the Select Board in doing the Town Select Board Meeting Minutes January 17, 2024 : , Manager's contract. He stated that the Board started with the contract that was in place and met with the Town Manager to discuss which changes he wanted to have. He then distributed a packet that contained the Town Managers evaluations going back three years, a salary survey of 144 communities of Town Managers and then had the opportunity to make some changes to the contract based from the input from all the members which brings us to now. Ms. Bren then went through the list of changes that were made first noting that the dates of the contract are January 3, 2024 through January 3, 2027. The Board agreed of a 2.5% COLA for each of the three years on July 1% and she read the salary amounts. There were also minor word changes to the acronyms which are now written out and also the word “allowance” referring to a car allowance was changed to stipend. Mr. DeRensis presented these changes to the Town Manager and he agreed to them. Motion: To approve and sign a contract for the Town Manager effective from January 3, 2024 to January 3, 2027. (Roche/Doherty) Passed 5:0.” (Motion: Roche, second: Doherty)

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

“Motion: To adjourn the Select Board meeting of January 17, 2024 at 7:37PM. (Trowbridge/Doherty) Passes 5:0.” (Motion: Trowbridge, second: Doherty)

Read it in the official minutes, page 13 (PDF)